Supervillain Origins: Carnage

The spawn of the alien symbiote known as Venom, Carnage was forged from having had retained the genetic information of its predecessor and Spider-Man. However, its extra power came from its choice of host, a psychotic serial killer named Cletus Kasady. The cell-mate of Eddie Brock, he was exposed to Venom's newborn offspring when Brock's symbiote launched a jailbreak. This instantly granted the killer incalculable super powers, the strength to escape the penitentiary, and go on a deadly rampage. Join WatchMojo.com as we explore the comic book origins of Carnage.

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VIDEO SCRIPT

He’s psychotic, and far stronger than Spiderman and Venom combined. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we will explore the comic book origins of Carnage, and his host Cletus Kasady.

As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginings and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen to primarily follow the storyline that unfolded in 1991’s “The Amazing Spider-Man” #344 and was expanded upon in issues #360-363.

The spawn of the alien symbiote known as Venom, Carnage was forged from having had retained the genetic information of Spider-man and the criminal Eddie Brock. However, its extra power came from its choice of host, a psychotic serial killer named Cletus Kasady.

Having had emerged from a troubled childhood, Kasady was once an orphan that tortured the family dog, and killed his grandmother by pushing her down a flight of stairs. Sent to a home for boys, he burned the institution down after killing both the disciplinarian administrator, and a girl who refused to date him. Diagnosed as a homicidal maniac, Kasady was given eleven consecutive terms at Ryker’s Prison.

Eventually, he ended up in a cell with Eddie Brock, the host of Venom, a supervillain who was defeated by Spider-man.

Some time later, Brock’s symbiote launched a jailbreak to free its human host. Pregnant, the asexual alien entity gave birth to a red offspring during the rescue.

Requiring a host, the newborn symbiote bonded with Kasady through a cut, allowing it to enter his bloodstream. This instantly granted the killer incalculable super powers, and the strength to escape the penitentiary.

With his newfound freedom and superpowers, Kasady began a Manhattan-wide killing spree. These murders included choosing targets at random, such as selecting victims from the telephone book. He would mark each vicious act by writing “Carnage” on the walls with his own blood, which became the name of his new identity.

Confronted by Spider-man, Carnage easily defeated the web-slinging hero due to possessing far superior speed, agility and reflexes. He even showcased the ability to web-crawl, regenerate and shape shift. This not only enabled Kasady to morph the symbiote into clothing, but change his hands into bladed weaponry, and form tentacle like appendages to restrain his victims.

Frightening and seemingly invincible, Spider-man formed a desperate truce with Venom, who he had reluctantly agreed to free from his island prison. Together they took on the serial killer, finally defeating him through the use of a sonic-based attack formed by the stage equipment of a nearby rock concert.

Despite the symbiote having appeared dead, and Kasady imprisoned at the Ravenloft Asylum, the murderer soon escaped. This was made possible by the alien life-form having survived in his blood stream.

A psychotic superhuman killer who sees bloodshed as the ultimate pleasure, Carnage remains one of Spider-man’s deadliest foes, and a popular villain within the series.